Wetin dey happen? Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) don shift ground. Dem don move the deadline for filing individual annual income tax returns from March 31 to April 14 for the 2026 year of assessment. Na big relief for plenty taxpayers wey dey struggle to meet the original deadline.
E no be say dem just wake up one morning decide to shift am. The extension come after serious technical wahala with the LIRS eTax portal. Just hours before the March 31 deadline, the platform begin dey misbehave. Thousands of people wey wan submit their returns no fit access the system. Error messages dey pop up. Some spend hours dey try, but nothing dey work.
Imagine the frustration. The law say you must file by March 31. LIRS don already stop manual filing completely. Na only eTax portal remain. If the portal no dey work, wetin person go do? Taxpayers carry their matter go social media. Dem dey complain say how dem go get penalty for system failure wey no be their fault?
LIRS hear the cry. The Executive Chairman of the agency, Dr. Ayodele Subair, talk through the Head of Corporate Communications, Monsurat Amasa-Oyelude. Dem release statement on Monday. Subair explain say the extension na to give people more time to finish their filing well-well. Make dem no rush and make mistake.
“The decision aims to help individuals submit their returns accurately and avoid errors,” Subair yarn. E talk say tax compliance suppose be routine responsibility. Something wey you dey do as e dey due. No be wahala wey you dey run from every year.
But make nobody think say the deadline don disappear forever. The extension na just two extra weeks. From April 1 reach April 14. If you no file by April 14, penalty go still catch you. LIRS don warn before. Failure to file go attract administrative penalties, interest, and other enforcement measures under the Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025.
Who this matter concern? Everybody wey dey earn income for Lagos State. Self-employed people. Business owners. Professionals. Informal sector workers. Even salaried employees wey dey under the Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) system. All of dem must file.
How to file? Na still through the eTax portal. Subair reiterate am well-well. “Individuals are therefore required to file their returns exclusively through the LIRS eTax portal: https://etax.lirs.net.” E describe the platform as secure and user-friendly. Say e dey available 24 hours a day.
Important advice from the chairman: make people double-check their Tax Identification Number (TaxID) when dem dey submit information. Small mistake for that number fit cause big problem later.
For those wey still dey confuse or need help, LIRS say make dem visit any LIRS office. Or contact the service through their official communication channels. Dem dey ready to assist.
The technical issues wey cause all this palaver don calm down now. The portal dey work. But the pressure still dey. Two weeks no be two months. Time dey go. The message from LIRS clear: use this extension wisely. File your returns correctly. Avoid last-minute rush wey fit lead to errors.
Dr. Subair talk am plain. “Individuals must give priority to the timely filing of their annual income tax returns.” E no be suggestion. E na requirement. The law dey watch.
So wetin remain? For Lagos taxpayers, na to log on to etax.lirs.net. Gather your documents. Check your TaxID. Submit your returns before April 14. The clock dey tick. The extension na opportunity, no be pardon. Miss am at your own risk.
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